Medical Laboratory Journal

Survey of Coronaviruses Infection among Patients with Flu-like Symptoms in the Golestan Province, Iran

Abdolvahab Moradi

ABSTRACT
            Background and objectives: Coronaviruses are the main causes of respiratory tract infections in humans. They are also the second leading cause of common cold after rhinoviruses, and can lead to otitis media and asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular detection of coronaviruses in clinical samples of patients with flu-like symptoms.
            Methods: Specimens were taken from 297 patients with flu-like symptoms who were referred to the influenza laboratory of Golestan University of Medical Sciences during 2012-2014. RNA was extracted from the specimens using an RNA extraction kit. Accordingly, RNA was used for cDNA synthesis and GAPDH was used as the internal control. Synthesized cDNA was investigated for presence of human coronaviruses genome with real-time polymerase chain reaction using specific primers. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16.0 software.
            Results: The coronavirus genome was not detected in the specimens of patients with flu-like symptoms.
            Conclusion: Genome of human coronaviruses is absent in samples from patients with upper respiratory tract infections and influenza-like symptoms, which may indicate the low prevalence of the virus in the Golestan Province, Iran.
            KEYWORDS: Human coronaviruses, Upper respiratory tract infection, Golestan Province.

Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Thyroid Hormones and Quality of Life in Obese Postmenopausal Women

Mehrdad Fathi

ABSTRACT
           Background and objectives: Studies have shown that exercise can affect hormone secretion and some metabolic and endocrine functions. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training on thyroid hormones and quality of life in obese postmenopausal women.
           Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 21 obese (body mass index >30 Kg/m²) women aged between 35 and 45 were randomly divided into an experimental (n=10) group and a control group (n=11). The subjects in the experimental group performed 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise at 65-75% of maximum heart rate, three times a week, for eight weeks. Level of thyroid hormones and quality of life subscales were compared within and between the groups. Statistical analysis was performed at significance level of 0.05.
           Results: After the eight-week exercise program, thyroxine, triiodothyronine and thyrotropin releasing hormone levels increased significantly, and thyroid releasing hormone level decreased significantly (P=0.001). The exercise program also had significantly positive effects on quality of life and its occupational, sexual and emotional subscales in obese postmenopausal women.
           Conclusion: Aerobic exercise causes a significant increase in levels of thyroxine, triiodothyronine and thyrotropin releasing hormone and some subscales of quality of life. It also causes a significant decrease in thyroid releasing hormone level, which indicates the effect of exercise on hormone secretion.
           KEYWORDS: Thyroid hormones, Obese, Quality of life, Aerobic training.

Effects of Endurance Training and Isocaloric High Intensity Interval Training on Anthropometric Indices and Insulin Resistance in High Fat Diet-Fed Wistar Rats

Seyed Javad Mirghani

ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Obesity is a global health problem that could lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Polygenic obesity is caused by multiple factors, such as lack of exercise and excess food intake. In this study, we evaluated effects of 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and isocratic moderate-intensity training (MIT) on anthropometric indices and insulin resistance in rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). 
Methods: Twenty-five male Wistar rats (mean age of 5-6 weeks) were divided into three groups: control group (HFD, N=5), HFD+ MIT (N=10) and HFD+ HIIT (N = 10). After placing the subjects on a HFD for 13 weeks, the exercise groups performed trainings for 12 weeks. 
Results: Body mass index and Lee index decreased significantly in both training groups (P≤0.05). There was no significant difference in insulin resistance between the three groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that HIIT is more effective than MIT in reducing some of the obesity markers in obese rats fed with a HFD. However, this type of training has no significant impact on insulin resistance.
Keywords: Obesity, High Intensity Interval Training, High-Fat Diet, Body composition Indexes.

Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Acinetobacter baumannii Strains Isolated from Intensive Care Unit Patients

Davoud Esmaeili

ABSTRACT
            Background and Objectives: Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that affects different groups of people, especially intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The prevalence of infections caused by this bacterium is very high. Today, prevalence of infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extreme-drug resistant (XDR) strains is increasing. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of A. baumannii isolates from ICU patients.
            Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2014 to March 2015 on patients admitted to ICU of Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran, Iran. Clinical samples of various sources were collected from patients. Isolates were detected and identified via microbiological and biochemical tests as well as PCR amplification of the bla_Oxa51gene. Then, susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS (version 22, Chicago, IL, USA) using Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests.
            Results: Of the total of 62 clinical samples, 24 (39%) were respiratory samples and only three (6%) were cerebrospinal fluid samples. Most MDR and XDR strains were isolated from respiratory samples. The highest resistance rate was against ceftriaxone, ticarcillin and erythromycin (100%), while the lowest resistance rate was against to minocycline (20%).
            Conclusion: Owing to detection of high multi-drug resistance isolates in the present study, and importance of multi-drug resistance in A. baumannii, the identification of multi-drug resistance genes and their reporting to health care/treatment centers is important. Thus, it is recommended to perform susceptibility testing to help determine the most effective antibiotic(s) for the treatment of infections in ICU patients.
            Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii, MDR, XDR, ICU.

Contamination of Pasteurized Fruit Juices with Bacillus licheniformis in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran

Farid Soltani

ABSTRACT
            Background and objectives: Bacillus licheniformis is a potential cause of spoilage in pasteurized products. The aim of this study was to identify and isolate B. licheniformis from commercial pasteurized fruit juices distributed in the West Azarbaijan Province, Iran.
            Methods: Sixteen fruit juice samples including four apple juice and 12 orange juice samples were collected from five fruit juice manufacturing companies in Iran. The samples were tested for the presence of B. licheniformis by culture in specific media and biochemical testing. Suspected samples were also investigated for the presence of the bacterium by polymerase chain reaction using specific primer for the gyrB gene.
            Results: Three samples (18.75%) from the 16 tested fruit juice samples were found as positive. In other words, one apple juice sample (25%) and two orange juice samples (16.66%) were contaminated with B. licheniformis.
            Conclusion: Isolation of this bacterium indicates the unsuitable manufacturing conditions and ineffective bacterial decontamination, which might also be favorable for the growth of other fruit juice spoilage bacteria.
            KEYWORDS: Bacillus licheniformis, Fruit and Vegetable Juices, Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Effect of Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction on Follistatin to Myostatin Ratio, Body Composition and Anaerobic Power of Trained-Volleyball Players

Reza Bagheri

ABSTRACT
           Background and objectives: The present study was designed to determine the effect of blood flow restriction training (BFRT) on follistatin to myostatin ratio, body composition and anaerobic power of trained volleyball players.
           Methods: Eighteen trained volleyball players were randomly assigned into two study groups: resistance training with blood flow restriction (BFRT; n=9) and resistance training without blood flow restriction (WBFRT; n=9). The subjects performed trainings three sessions a week, for eight weeks. In each session, barbell squat, leg extension, leg curl and dumbbell lunges were performed in three sets of 15 repetitions, with rest intervals of 30 seconds. Serum follistatin and myostatin concentrations, body composition and anaerobic power were assessed before and after the study. Data were analyzed using the paired sample t-test, Wilcoxon test, independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. All statistical analyses were done in SPSS (version 22), and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
           Results: Follistatin levels increased significantly (P=0.001), while myostatin levels decreased significantly in both groups (P=0.001). Follistatin to myostatin ratio increased significantly in both groups (P=0.001). Although body fat percentage decreased in both groups, it did not differ significantly between the two groups (P=0.28). Moreover, anaerobic power increased significantly in both groups (P=0.001), but this increase was more profound in the BFRT group (P=0.001).
           Conclusion: Based on our findings, blood flow restriction can be applied as remarkable approach to boost body adaptation responses to resistance training.
           KEYWORDS: Resistance training, Myostatin, Follistatin, Blood flow restriction.

Evaluation and Isolation of Halophilic Bacteria from the Meyghan Lake in Arak, Iran

Milad Shahsafi

ABSTRACT
           Background and Objectives: Halophilic bacteria can grow and survive in environments with a wide range a wide range of salinities. In this study, we aimed to isolate halophilic bacteria from the Meyghan Lake in Arak (Iran) and evaluate their enzymatic activity.
           Methods: Samples were taken from four different areas of the lake. Halophilic bacteria were isolated by culture in moderate halophilic medium, sea water nutrient agar and nutrient agar containing different salt concentrations. Purification was done via consecutive culture methods, and production of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes including amylase, protease, lecithinase, DNase and lipase was evaluated.
           Results: Among 74 bacteria isolated from the lake water samples, 24 produced amylase, 27 produced lipase (Tween 40 and 80), 68 produced protease, three produced DNase and 61 produced lecithinase.
           Conclusion: In this study, we isolated halophilic bacteria with enzymatic activity and potential industrial applications.
           Keywords: Biological Diversity, isolation and purification, Halobacteriales, Meyghan Lake, Arak.

Genotyping of Individuals with Hemoglobinopathies in Beja Tribes and Other Minor Groups in Port Sudan, Eastern Sudan

Mohammed Omer Abaker Gibreel

ABSTRACT
            Background and objectives: This study aimed to characterize the spectrum of β-thalassemia mutations and haplotypes of sickle cell anemia in Beja tribes and other minor groups living in Port Sudan, Sudan.
            Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from March 2011 to July 2013. Overall, 209 anemic patients were screened for hemoglobinopathy by capillary electrophoresis. The subjects were genotyped for β-thalassemia mutation by amplified refractory mutation system and for sickle cell haplotype by restriction-fragment length polymorphism.
            Results: Of the 209 patients, 29 (13.87%) showed the typical -88(C→T) β-thalassemia mutation and 27 (12.91%) had sickle cell anemia, of whom 15 (55.6%) were heterozygous AS and 12 (44.4%) were homozygous SS. Based on results of the restriction-fragment length polymorphism; all subjects were with Benin haplotype (Benin/Benin).
            Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to perform a potential carrier screening for the -88 (C→T) mutation and sickle cell Benin haplotype by DNA analysis.
            KEYWORDS: Genotyping, Hemoglobinopathies, Thalassemia, Sickle cell disease, Port Sudan.